We take a look at this week's racing.(credit:
James from SoGlos.com)
Live-horseracing previews a fantastic week of racing that includes Fairyhouse's Easter meeting and some high class action from Aintree as we draw closer to Saturday's showpiece event.
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Sunday April 4
Fairyhouse
2:25 Rathbarry and Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle
Run over two miles, this Grade Two features a small but select bunch of young hurdlers, including Eddie O'Grady's promising six-year-old Warne.
2:55 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle
A big field Graded contest full of progressive novices and a real challenge for punters.
3:30 Powers Gold Cup
One of the best Irish novice chases, this two-and-a-half-mile contest features some talented young jumpers, including the highly rated Zaarito.
Monday April 5
Fairyhouse
3:20 Ladbrokes.com Hurdle
A Grade Three over two and a half miles featuring some interesting candidates, including Aitmatov, Cousin Vinny and Donnas Palm.
4:05 Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National Chase
Three-miles-and-five-furlongs and a packed field make this one of the busiest betting races of the Irish calendar. The forecast heavy going should turn this into quite a test of endurance.
Tuesday April 6
Fairyhouse
3:00 Bobbyjo Bar Festival Novice Hurdle
A very competitive Grade Three run over two-and-a-half-miles with a big field and some promising youngsters on show.
3:35 Tattersalls Ireland Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase
A popular betting race, this handicap features a intriguing mix of gnarled old campaigners and progressive types.
Thursday April 8
Aintree
2:00 BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle
The Festival curtain raiser for which stamina will be less of an issue on this flat course than it was for the World Hurdle, the Cheltenham equivalent, last month.
2:35 Matalan Anniversary 4YO Novices' Hurdle
This Grade One for juveniles is usually a rematch for those who took part in the Triumph Hurdle, though the winner of that race, Soldatino is not entered here.
3:10 Totesport Bowl Chase
Run over three miles-and-a-furlong, this Grade Two can be a consolation prize for those who came up short in the Gold Cup but Cheltenham victor Imperial Commander will be a tough nut to crack.
4:20 Alder Hay Imagine Appeal Red Rum Handicap Chase
A big field two mile chase in which they are sure to go a strong gallop as they tackle the fences on the speedy Mildmay Course.
Friday April 9
2:00 John Smith's Top Novices Hurdle
You can expect to see some familiar faces from the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham appearing here and there will be plenty of top class form to be perused, though as ever, you have to bear in mind the particular requirements of this flat and galloping track.
2:35 matalan.co.uk Mildmay Novices' Chase
A Grade Two race, run over three-miles-and-a-furlong, it attracts a number of those who competed in the Royal and Sun Alliance last month.
3:10 John Smith's Melling Chase
A top quality Grade One race, run over two-and-a-half-miles but which often attracts a mix of distance specialists and speedier two milers.
3:45 John Smith's Topham Chase
A real bruising handicap, run over two-miles-and-five-furlongs and likely to feature a large field. As this race is run over the imposing National fences, jumping ability is the key factor to consider.
Saturday April 10
Aintree
1:45 John Smith's Mersey Novices' Hurdle
This Grade Two contest is usually fought out by the better staying novices, many of which will have taken part in the Neptune Investment Hurdle at Cheltenham.
2:15 John Smith's Magull Novices' Chase
This two mile contest is a complement to the Arkle and has been won by some fine horses in recent times, including Well Chief, Ashleybrook and Tidal Bay.
2:50 John Smith's Dick Francis Aintree Hurdle
Run over two-and-a-half-miles, this is a valuable Grade One contest, but the extra distance of half a mile can make it difficult for Champion Hurdle horses to prosper. The redoubtable Al Eile has won three of the last five runnings of this race.
4:15 John Smith's Grand National
The Grand National is the most valuable National Hunt race in the world and the one race that gets the whole nation talking. It is the one trophy missing from the Paul Nicholl's cabinet but he has an excellent chance to finally get his hands on the prize with the antepost favourite, Big Fella Thanks.